Parkie M. Coffey (1913-1939)

Parkie was born on Jan. 23, 1913 in Adair Co., KY to Andrew Jackson "Andy" Coffey and Malinda Ann Wheat.  She was married to Bulon Grider on May 11, 1935[1], and at age 22 was somewhat late in the life of a young woman from Appalachia. Bulon was 26, born Jun. 23, 1908, a son of Hector Owen and Serena Josephine Bryant Grider.

Their first child, Nadean was born Jul. 9, 1935 in Montpelier and died 29 Oct 1999.  She was buried at the Hale Family cemetery.  Her husband was Travis Hale but neither a census record nor a  marriage record has yet been found. At least four children, all daughters, were born to this union: Beverly, Barbara, Pamela and Kathy.

Obituary from memorial site:

Nadean Hale, 64, Russell Springs, died Friday, October 29, 1999 at Russell County Hospital.  She was born in Russell County July 9, 1935 to the late Parkie Coffey Grider and the late Bulon Grider.  She was a homemaker and a member of French Valley United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Shelby Jean Grider, Lacona Grider and Leona Grider. She is survived by her husband Travis Hale; four daughters, Beverly Jo Hale, Russell Springs, Barbara Coffey and her husband Joe, Jamestown, Pamela Mann and her husband Billy, Russell Springs and Kathy Hale, Russell Springs; one brother, Orvis Grider, Columbia, Kentucky; six grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Services were held Monday, November 1, 1999, 10:00 a.m. at Bernard Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Brian Janes and Rev. Tommy Sexton officiating. Burial was in Hale Cemetery. Special music was provided by Wilma Coffey and Steve Stapp. Pallbearers were Mike Bradshaw, Darrell Robertson, Charles Edwards, Ronnie Hudson, David Hare and Ronnie Coffey. Bernard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The tragedy in the life of Parkie and Bulon began circa Jan., 1937 when their daughter Annie Josephine was born.  The child died of acute bronchitis some four months later on May 27, 1937 in Montpelier.  She was laid to rest at Haynes Cemetery on 28 May 1937.  The Find A Grave memorial for Annie [No. 58330111] names her as a half-sibling to Bulon and Parkie's other children.  But, her death certificate names that couple as her mother and father.

Annie Josephine Grider 

Death Certificate

The tragedy continued with the death of Parkie on 27 Nov. 1939 of endocarditis and septicemia following the birth of twin daughters, Lacona and Leonna on Oct. 15, 1939.  Lacona died the day following her mother's death.  Leonna lived a bit longer before death overcame her on Dec. 8.

Parkie May Coffey Grider

Death Certificate

All were buried at Haynes Cemetery.

Bulon has not been found in the 1940 census.  He enlisted in the US Army at Louisville, KY on Jan. 19, 1943.

Bulon lived until Mar. 16, 1956 when he died as a result of malnutrition and dehydration caused by a brain tumor.  He was also buried at Haynes.  It is not known if her ever remarried. His death certificate reported that he was a widower at the time of death. The informant was his daughter Nadean, using surname Grider. Perhaps she married after his death.

Bulon Grider

Death Certificate

A death certificate has not been found for the other children.  Oddly, the daughter Annie and Shelby appear to have the same birth and death dates. Perhaps they too were twins.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed!

[1]"Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-QB5C-H?cc=1804888&wc=QD3Q-W78%3A1589734243 : 17 May 2018), 004544018 > image 150 of 1197; Madison County Courthouse, Richmond.

Robert W. Coffey (1845-1929)

A reader recently wrote to ask for any information about Mary Ann Bennett who married Robert W. Coffey of Adair Co., KY.

Robert was a son of Zidner and Morgana "Ann" Keltner Coffey and was born c1845 in Adair Co., KY.  Researchers believe that he was married at least three times between 1868 and 1890.  

Robert first married Mary Ann Bennett in Adair Co. on Aug. 13, 1868.  In 1870 the couple lived in East Fork, Metcalfe Co., KY and in 1880 they were in Gradyville, Adair Co.  They apparently had no children that survived much beyond birth because there were none to appear in the household at either census.

We believe Mary Ann died sometime after 1880 because Robert was subsequently married on Feb. 12, 1890 to Sally Catherine Compton in Adair Co. 

They remained married for nearly 30 years and were the parents of at least two children:  

Maggie Pearl, born Dec. 31, 1890 in Adair Co. and died there on May 1, 1937.  Maggie married Curt Stephens of Metcalfe Co. on Apr. 12, 1924 in Jeffersonville, Clarke Co., IN.  She was 33 years old and very likely had been previously married.  There are no known children.

William Zidner, born 1892 in Columbia, Adair Co., died in Ohio on Dec. 18, 1961.  He married three times.  His first was to Maggie Helm, born 1892 in Columbia, Adair Co., died 1972 in Butler Co., OH.  They are known to have had one child, Eunice Katherine, born 1925, died in Hamilton Co., OH in 1983.

William's second wife was Louise Estel DeBolt on May 27, 1919.  She was a native of Wetzel Co., WV and no children are known.  Third marriage was to Lydia A. Williams in c1922 OH.  She was born there in 1895 and died there in 1991.  Again, no known children.

It is thought that Robert was married again, and after Mary Ann in the period between 1880 and 1890.  This thought arises from the fact that in 1900 Robert reported that he had been married three times.  In the household that year was Lillian M. Coffey, age 16, born Mar., 1884 and enumerated as Robert's daughter.  Maggie and William were also included in this census.

My reader believes that Lillian married Charles M. Bragg in 1906.  Others, like me, believe Charles' bride was Lillie Mae, the daughter of Cyrus C. and Parthenia "Emma" Wheat Coffey.  In the marriage record to Charles, she was named Lillie May.

Please contact me if you have any information that might be helpful in determining whose daughter married Charles M. Bragg.

---

*There is a marriage record dated Jul. 1, 1882 for an "R. W. or Robert W. Coffey" in Taylor Co., KY, situated some 30 miles distant from Adair Co.  On the license abstract, the groom's birth year is way off leading me to believe this is not the R. W. we are looking for.  The bride of record was Martha Taylor, age 19.

Dorinda and Malinda, the Wheat ladies

Hiram Taylor Wheat and his wife Elizabeth Richards, both of Russell Co., KY, had a number of children, including Dorinda, born Nov. 20, 1881 and, Malinda, born Nov. 8, 1884. Both of these ladies married into the Edward Coffey line of descent.

James & Dorinda Wheat Mar Record

Dorinda L. married James W. Coffey, a son of Golson Wilson and Mary C. Allen Coffey, on Jan. 30, 1902 in Adair Co., KY.  Compared to the "normal age" of about 20 for the males and 14-15 for the females of that era, Dorinda and James married late in life.  He was 27 years old, she was 20.  Their first child was named Taylor Wilson Coffey, born Feb. 15, 1909.  Unfortunately, the child did not live even a month and died on Mar. 10, 1909 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Methodist Church Cemetery near Russell Springs.

Except for that visit to Adair Co. to marry, James and Dorinda lived the remainder of their lives in Russell County, always near Russell Springs.  Both he and Dorinda were faithful members of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church.

Their second and last child was Loriston, a son, born May 29, 1914 in Russell Co.  He died on Jun. 30 1989 in Jefferson Co., KY and was brought home for burial at Mt. Pleasant. I have no information about any family that he may have had.

A young man by the name of Willis Conover first appeared with James and Dorinda in 1910 and was enumerated as their ward.  He was four years old.  I have not yet determined who his parents might have been, but there was a William Conover who married Sarah Stapp in Adair Co. who may have been his parents.  William and Sarah did have a daughter, Sarah Emma who married Samuel Marion Coffey, brother to James W.  Willis continued to appear with or very near James and Dorinda through 1930 when he was their neighbor with his own family, wife Helen, and young son Wilmer.

Finally, in 1940 James and Dorinda were alone once again.  He died on Apr. 18, 1951 of a coronary occlusion and Dorinda on Feb. 22, 1961.  Both were buried at Mt. Pleasant.  One puzzle however was found in her obituary.  That reports that she was not buried until Apr. 24, 1961.  I am wondering if it was too cold and ground too frozen in February to dig her grave and the thaw did not come until late April!?

Mrs. Dorinda Wheat Coffey, widow of the late James W. Coffey, died at her home in Jamestown on Saturday, April 22.  She was 79 years of age.

She and Mr. Coffey were married in 1902 and two children were born of this union - Taylor Wilson Coffey, who died in infancy, and Loriston Coffey.  In addition, Willis Conover, now living in Brooklyn, Ind. grew up in the home of Mrs. Coffey and she was as a mother to him.  Mr. Coffey died in 1951.

In addition to her son and foster-son, she is survived by six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  Two sisters and one brother preceded her in death, and one sister, Mrs. Ann Coffey of Montpelier, survives.

Mrs. Coffey was a member of the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church and lived a devout Christian life.  Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, April 24, in her church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. D. A. Payton.  Burial was in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Guy Calhoun, Horace Angle, Ray Wheat, Talt Jones, Glaud Grider, and H. C. Coffey.  Rottetoe Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. [Judy Lynn]

---

James W. Coffey was born August 7, 1874, lived 76 years, eight months and 11 days, when his spirit passed from this earth, April 18, 1951.

Mr. Coffey is survived by his wife, Dorinda Wheat Coffey, one son, Lorista [sic] Coffey, and a boy whom he raised, Willis Conover.

There were seven brothers and one sister.  Four of his brothers are still living, John Coffey, Same Coffey, Andy Coffey and Arthur Coffey.  He survived one son, Taylor Wilson Coffey, three brothers, Pink Coffey, Herschel Coffey, Martin Coffey, also one sister, Della, preceded him to the grave.

James W. Coffey and Dorinda Wheat were united in holy wedlock January 30, 1902, where they lived together for 49 years.

Mr. Coffey professed Christianity at an early age.  He was a devout Christian who attended church at Mt. Pleasant where he held his membership.  His last statement was, "I am ready to go.  There is nothing in the way." 

Funeral and burial was at Mt. Pleasant, with Rippetoe Funeral Home, Russell Springs, in charge of all arrangements. [Judy Lynn]

---

---

Andy & Malinda Wheat Mar Record

Dorinda's sister, Malinda Ann, sometimes called Ann or Annie, was born in Russell Co. on Nov. 8, 1884 and died in Adair Co. on Mar. 26, 1976.  She married Andrew J. "Andy" Coffey on July 18, 1909 in Adair Co.  Andy was also a son of Golson and younger brother of James W.

From the time of their marriage until death this couple resided in Adair Co but, both were returned to Russell Co. for burial in the Methodist church cemetery with others in their respective families.

This couple appears to have had only three children:  Pinkey, born c1914, who I believe married a Grider and had two children, Nadine and Arvis.  These two children appeared in the 1940 census as grandchildren with Andy and Ann.  Nadine was age 4 and Arvis was age 2.  Their parents were not present in the household.

In addition to Pinkey there was Leslie, a son, born c1918 and Alvis, another son, born c1924.

Andy died on Jul. 20, 1963 and Malinda on Mar. 26, 1976.


Jack

Benjamin S. Coffey - Adair Co., KY

Benjamin S. Coffey was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives for the period 1865-1867 but, resigned in 1866.

Click on images to enlarge

There was a Benjamin S., age 19, along with a Joseph Coffey, age 17, in the 1850 Adair Co. census.  He and Joseph were clerks working for the merchant Willis Wheat and were enumerated with Wheat and his family.

At the same time in Adair Co. was the family of Martial (Marshall) L. Coffey, age 31; Jane, age 69 and Eliza, 33; E. J. (Emily Jane), age 26; and L. C. (Louisa Caroline), age 23.  Marshall and the younger girls were children of Ananias and Jane Hindman Coffey.  Ananias died in Adair Co. before 1850.  In addition to Marshall and his sisters in this census, He and Jane had at least six additional children:  Nancy, 1809; Zidner, 1810; Cabaius, 1811; Harriett, 1813; Mary, 1814; and Eliza, 1815.

Benjamin S. appears next in the 1860 Adair Co. census with Jane, age 69 [sic] as head of household, another female, whose name is not recognizable by me and, Benjamin, age 29 with Elizabeth R., age 22, George A., age 3, and Carrie J., age 1.  Elizabeth and the children are probably Benjamin's wife and children*.

---

Jane Hindman is said to have been born in Rockbridge Co., VA in 1781 and, I have little doubt that she is the Jane with Marshall in 1850.  The Jane in 1860, same age as 1850 Jane, was born in KY c1791.  One plausible explanation could be a matter of simply forgetting her age and place of birth by one of the other family members (or even herself) who gave information to the enumerator.

However, neither a Benjamin nor a Joseph are known (by me) to be children of Jane Hindman and Ananias Coffey.  If Benjamin was born c1831 and Joseph c1833, it would mean that Jane Hindman Coffey was between 50 and 52 years old when they were born, making her a bit unlikely to be their mother.  If her birth year was say 1791 instead, it's conceivable (no pun intended) that she could have given birth in her early 40's to two additional children.  The two boys birth years fall somewhat neatly after the last known child, Louisa Caroline in 1827.  For argument's sake, I'm assuming that Benjamin and Joseph were brothers.

So, my questions are:  Was Jane in 1860 the same Jane in 1850?  If not, who was the spouse of 1860 Jane and the father of Benjamin and Joseph?  Was this Benjamin S. Coffey the same Benjamin S. Coffey elected to the Adair state legislature?

*Benjamin S. Coffey married Elizabeth R. McBeath in Columbia, Adair Co., KY on 9 Aug., 1854 (County Marriage Book 3, Page 101)